Chamba administration to revive near-extinct champaca trees

Lalit Mohan
Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, July 28

Magnolia champaca trees, locally known as champak trees, once spread throughout the Chamba town. According to locals, the town was named after the trees. The women of the town used to wear its flowers in their hair. However, now, the trees are nearing extinction.

Anjali Malhotra, municipal councillor of Chamba, said: “Just four trees of champak are left in the town now, that, too, near the Deputy Commissioner’s office.”

Anjali said a campaign had been started by the locals in coordination with the Chamba museum for reviving the trees here. “This year, many champak trees have been planted in the town. Since the tree has slow growth and takes about 25 years to mature, so care has to be taken for a few years before the trees can blossom,” she said.

The flowers are primarily used for worship in temples. These have natural perfume and are generally worn in the hair by girls and women. Flowers are used for decoration and to make garlands also.

The flower is rare and has a strong perfume. The tree was traditionally used for making hair and massage oils. Jean Patou’s famous perfume “Joy”, which is the second best-selling perfume in the world after Chanel No. 5, is derived in part from the essential oils of champaca flowers.

It is found in the tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, at 200–1,600 metres from the mean sea level.

The tree grows up to 50 metres (160 ft) or taller. Its trunk can be up to 1.9 metres (6.2 ft) in diameter.

The flowers are of varying shades of cream to yellow-orange and flowers between June and September.

Anjali said at one time, the champak flowers were used in Chamba to produce perfumes locally. “In case we are able to increase the number of trees in the area, it can also revive the perfume industry here,” she said.

Flowers used for making perfumes 

• The flowers of Magnolia champaca tree in India are primarily used for worship in temples
• They are generally worn in the hair by girls and women and has natural perfume
• Flowers are used for decoration and to make garlands
• The flower is rare and has a strong perfume. It was used in Chamba to produce perfumes locally
• The tree was traditionally used for making hair and massage oils